Desk-top machine for washing eyeglasses



Oct. 22, 1968 c, MaGCHESNEY ET AL 3,406,696

DESK-TOP MACHINE FOR WASHING EYEGLASSES Filed Nov. 9, 1966 v s Sheets-Sheet 1 lnvenfor Chester M. MacChesney Richard Wink/er Oct. 22, 1968 Filed Nov. 9, 1966 c MaC ET AL 3,406,696

DESK-TOP MACHINE FOR WASHING EYEGLASSES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Chester M. MacChesmay Richard Wink/er United States Patent 3,406,696 DESK-TOP MACHINE FOR WASI-HNG EYEGLASSES Chester-M. MacChesney, Chicago, and Richard Winkler,

Palos Heights, Ill., assignors to Ellamac Incorporated,

a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 9, 1966, Ser. No.'593,086 11 Claims. (Cl. 134-58) The present invention is directed to a machine for washing eyeglasses and particularly to a desk-top machine for automatically washing eyeglasses having lenses mounted in a frame therefor.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a machine of the type set forth having therein a washing chamber for receiving the lenses of the eyeglasses to be cleaned, a plurality of nozzles having outlets disposedin the washing chamber for directing streams of fluids upon both surfaces of the lenses disposed in the washing chamber, a reservoir for washing solvent mounted in the housing, a solvent pump disposed in the housing for pumping solvent from the reservoir through'the nozzles to direct streams of solvent upon both surfaces of the lenses to wash the lenses, and an air pump disposed in the housing for pumping air from the atmosphere through the nozzles to direct streams of air upon both surfaces of the lenses to dry the lenses.

It is another object of the invention to incorporate in a machine of the type set forth a heater for heating the solvent, preferably water having a wetting agenttherein, prior to the pumping of the solvent through the nozzles and for heating the air prior to the pumping thereof through the nozzles.

In connection with the foregoing object, another object of the invention is to provide a heater having separate passages for the solvent and the air, the heater preferably being electrically operated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a desktop machine for Washing eyeglasses of the type set forth, wherein the housing has an opening in the top thereof communicating with the washing chamber therein for receiving the frame carrying the lenses of the eyeglasses to be cleaned, and a cover hingedly mounted on the housing and movable between an eyeglass receiving position permitting'access through the opening for the purpose of depositing eyeglasses in the washing chamber and an eyeglass washing position closing the opening during the washing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a desktop machine for washing eyeglasses of the type set forth, wherein a single drive motor is provided for the solvent pump and the air pump, suitable clutch mechanism being utilized selectively to connect the drive motor to the solvent pump and to the air pump.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a desk-top machine for washing eyeglasses of the type set forth a control circuit therefor that is operative to energize the heater and also including a timer mechanism manually settable and operative to control the length of times that the drive motor is connected to the solven pump and the air pump, respectively, to cause automatic sequential operation thereof, thus to effect automatic washing of the eyeglasses disposed in the machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an electrical signal, preferably lights, to indicate When the heater is energized, to indicate when the heater is suffic'iently hot to permit proper operation of the eyeglass washing machine, and to indicate when the eyeglass washing cycle has been completed.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the parts of the eyeglass washing 3,406,696 Patented Oct. 722, 1968 machine, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained. I M

The invention,'both as to its organization and method of operation together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of desk-top, machine for washing eyeglasses made in accordance with the present invention, the cover for the washing chamber being illustrated in the closed position;

FIG; 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showingthe cover for the washing chamber in they open position with a pair of eyeglasses being illustrated by dashed lines in the washing position thereof; 7

FIG. 3 is a schematic and diagrammatic illustration of the operating parts of the eyeglass washing machine of FIGS. 1 and 2; g

FIG. 4 is a schematic electrical diagram of the electrical circuit forming a part of the eyeglass washing machine of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 5 is a diagram of the operating cycle of the machine of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings there is illustrated a machine 10 for washing eyeglasses, the machine 10 being adapted to be supported upon a desk top and made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention. The eyeglass washing machine 10 includes a main housing 11 generally rectangular in shape and includes a bottom wall (not shown), a generally vertically arranged rear wall 13, a pair of substantially parallel upstanding outer side walls 14 integral at the rear edges thereof with the rear wall 13 and integral at the front edges thereof with an outer front vwall 15. Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the fourwalls named define a hollow opening in the housing 11 and disposed within that opening is a pair of inner side. Walls 16 spaced from the adjacent outer sidewall 14 and an inner front wall 17 spaced from the outer front wall 15. Mounted upon the side walls 16 and. the front wall17 is an upper housing 20 that carries therein (as illustrated),

walls 14-16 define therebetween spaces that receive the temple pieces of eyeglasses to be washed, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. Disposed below the washing chamber 25 is a catch basin 26, see FIG. 3, the catch basin 26 including a bottom 'wall 27, a pair of upstanding substantially parallel side walls 28 and a pair of upstanding end walls 29, the five walls mentioned being integrally joined to provide a fluid-tight container.

There is illustrated in FIG. 3 and diagrammatically in FIG. 2 one form of eyeglasses 30 that can be washed in the machine 10 of the present invention. The eyeglasses 30 illustrated include a frame 31 mounting therein a pair of lenses 32, the frame 31 also carrying a pair of temple pieces 33 respectively connected thereto on opposite ends thereof by hinges 34. As illustrated, the frame 31 and the lenses 32 disposed therein can be positioned in the washing chamber 25 above the catch basin 26 with the frame 31 and the lenses 32 disposed essentially vertically. The temple pieces 33 extend rearwardly from the washing chamber 25 into the spaces 24 provided therefor and defined by adjacent pairs of the side walls 14-16.

In order to prevent the escape of washing solvent from the housing 11 during the washing operation, a cover 35 has been provided to close the tops of the spaces 24 and the washing chamber 25, the cover 35 to this end insections 37 closing the area over the spaces 24. The rear ends of the cover side sections 37 are connected by hinges 38 to ears 18 extending upwardly from the outer side walls 14. As a consequence, the cover 35 can be pivoted between an open eyeglasses receiving position illustrated in FIG. 2 and a closed eyeglasses washing position illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, the mechanism for effecting the washing operation will be described in greater detail. There is mounted within the housing 11 a reservoir or tank 40 for the washing solvent, the preferred solvent being water having dissolved therein a suitable wetting agent for facilitating the washing of the lenses 32 and the draining therefrom of the washing solvent. The tank 40 is provided with the usual filling spout 41 having a threaded outer end receiving thereon a complementarily threaded cap 42. In order to form a suitable stream of washing solvent for projection onto the lenses 32, there is provided a solvent or water pump 45 having an inlet connected by a water pipe 43 to the bottom of the tank 40 and having an outlet connected to one end of a water pipe 44. The pump 45 is driven through a drive shaft 46 carrying on the outer end thereof a clutch member 47.

Before impingement of the washing solvent upon the lenses 32, it is desirable that the washing solvent be heated, and preferably heated so as to provide steam or a' mist thereof, andto this end there has been provided an electrical heater 50. The heater 50 comprises a metal block 51 having a substantial heat capacity, and disposed within the block 51 is a water coil 52 having one end thereof connected to the outlet end of the water pipe 44 and having the other end thereof connected to a pipe 53 which in turn connects to four water nozzles 54. More specifically, each of the water nozzles 54 is arranged substantially centrally of the adjacent surface of the associated lens 32, the four nozzles 54 being sufiicient to impinge a stream of washing solvent upon both surfaces of both lenses 32. It will be understood that the pump 45 forces the washing solvent under pressure through the heating coil 52, thereby rapidly to heat the washing solvent and to convert it to a mist or steam which is directed with force by the nozzles 54 onto the adjacent surface of the associated lens 32, thereby to give a rapid and thorough cleaning of the associated lens surfaces, the condensate and washing solvent draining downwardly from the lenses 32 into the catch basin 26.

Further considering the construction of the heater 50, there is disposed about the water coil 52 an electrical heating coil 55 which is energized in a suitable manner, as will be explained more fully hereinafter, to impart heat directly to the water coil 52 and also to the metal block 51 to store heat therein, whereby the washing solvent in the coil 52 is rapidly heated to an elevated temperature as explained above. There is further disposed about the electrical coil 55 an air coil 56 which has the inlet end thereof connected to an air pump as will be explained more fully hereinafter, and which has the outlet end thereof connected by a pipe 57 to a set of four air nozzles 58, each of the air nozzles 58 being arranged substantially centrally of the adjacent surface of the associated lens 32 to impinge a stream of heated air thereon to effect the drying thereof.

In order to achieve the above described desired operation of the water pump 40, there is provided an electric drive motor 60 mounted within the housing 11 and having a first output shaft 61 carrying thereon a clutch member 62, the clutch member 62 being keyed to the output shaft 61 for positive rotation therewith while accommodating longitudinal sliding movement therealong into an out of engagement with the clutch member 47 mounted on the end of the drive shaft 46 for the water pump 45. A second output shaft 63 is provided extending from the 4 other end of the drive motor 60 and carrying thereon a clutch member 64 also keyed to the shaft 63 to be positively rotated therewith while accommodating longitudinal sliding movement therealong between an engaged and a disengaged position.

' 'I he clutch member 64 is adapted to drive an air pump 65, the air pump 65 including a drive shaft 66 extending toward the clutch member 64 and carrying on the outer end thereof a clutch member 67 which as illustrated in FIG. 3 is connected with the clutch member 64. The air pump 65 when driven by the motor 60 through the clutch members 64-67 draws air from the atmosphere through an air filter 68 and pump's the air under pressure through a pipe 69 having one end connected to the outlet of the air pump 65 and having the other end connected to the inlet of the air coil 56. The air pump 65 is therefore operative to draw air from the atmosphere through the filter 68 and to force the air under pressure through the pipe 69 and the heating air coil 56, the air being heated in the coil 56, whereby heated air is discharged to the pipe 57 to be discharged through the nozzles 58 onto the adjacent surfaces of the lenses 32.

In order selectively to operate either the water pump 45 or the air pump 65, an electrically actuated clutc h mechanism 70 has been provided including a yoke 71 having a first forked arm 72 engaging the clutch member 62 and a second forked arm 73 engaging the clutch member 65, the yoke 71 further being provided with a control arm 74. As illustrated, a spring 75 under tension is connected between the control arm 74 and the housing 11' continually to 'urge the yoke 71 to a position such that the second forked arm 73 urges the clutch members 64-67 into engagement, thereby to drive the air pump 65 when the drive motor 60 is energized; at this time the clutch members 47-62 are disengaged thereby to prevent operation of the solvent pump 45. There also is provided a transfer solenoid to be described more fully hereinafter which is useful to shift the yoke 71 against the action of the spring 75 so as to cause the forked arm 72 to move the clutch members 47-62 into engagement, thereby to drive the water pump 45 when the drive motor 60 is energized; at this time the clutch members 6467 are disengaged thereby to prevent operation of the air pump 65.

Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings, there is illustrated a control circuit useful in operating and automatically' controlling :the mechanisms illustrated in FIG. 3, whereby substantially automatically to effect washing of the eyeglasses 30 in the machine 10. It will be seen that the control circuit100 is connected to the usual household electrical source, and more specifically, a 118 volt, '60 cycle, single phase, A.C. electrical supply provided on a pair of main conductors L1 and L2 that connect to a terminal block 101 in the machine 10. The conductors L1 and L2 are connected to a control switch 102 and specifically to the switch blades 103 and 104, respectively, which cooperate with switch contacts 105 and 106, respectively, when the control switch 102 is closed, thereby to apply the potentials appearing on the conductors L1 and L2, respectively, to line conductors 107 and 108 connected, respectively, to the switch contacts 105 and 106. As may be best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the control switch 102 is mounted on the front wall 15 of the main housing 11. Connected between the conductors 107 and 108 is a pilot light 110, the pilot light 110 being mounted on the front wall 15 of the housing 11 as is best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2; accordingly, when the control switch 102 is placed in the closed position, the pilot light 110 will immediately be enengized to indicate that power is applied to the machine 10. Forming a part of the control circuit 100 is a thermostatic switch 111 associated with the electrical heater 50 (see FIG. 3 also), the thermostatic switch 111 including a bimetallic member 112 that is in good thermal contact with the metal block 51 forming a part of the heater 50, the bimetallic member 12 being biased so that it in, the position illustrated in FIG. 4 when the metal block 51 is cold, and the lefthand end thereof is moved upwardly to a raised position when the metal block 51 is at the desired operating temperature. The thermstatic switch 111 further comprises a pair of substantially stationary switch springs 113 and 115 and a movable; switch spring 114 that is moved by the bimetallic member 112, thetswitch springs 113-114 being closed when the metal block 51 is cold, and the switch springs 114-115 being closed when the metal block 51 is at the desired operating temperature'therefon The switch spring 113 is connected to a conductor 116, the switch spring 114 is connected to the conductor 107 and the switch spring 115 is connected to a conductor 117. The electric coil 55 of the heater 50 has one terminal thereof connected 108 and has the other terminal thereof connected to the conductor 116. Connected between the conductors 108 and 117 is a READY light 120 that is mounted on the front wall 15 of the housing 11 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), the READY light 120 indicating when the metal block 51 of the heater 50 is at the desired operating temperature. A CYCLE light 130 is provided having one terminal connected .to the conductor 108 and the other terminal connected to a conductor 118, the CYCLE light 130 indicating when the machine is in a washing and drying cycle, all as will be described more fully hereinafter.

In order to cause a desired cycle of operation of the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 3, a timer 140 has been provided, the timer 140 including a timer motor 141 having an output shaft 142 driving a gear box 143 that is in turn connected through an impositive drive clutch 144 to a driven shaft 145. The timer motor 141 is electrically operated and has one terminal connected to the conductor 108 and the other terminal connected to the conductor 118. The driven shaft 145 carries a plurality of control cams, C1, C2 and C3, as 'well as a dial 146 on the outer end thereof, the dial 146 having a plurality of indicia 147 thereon cooperating with an index marker 148; referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the dial 146 and the index marker 148 are mounted on the front Wall of the housing 11 so as to be readily available to the user of the machine 10.

The cam C1 is useful to operate a pair of switches S11 and S12, the switch S11 including a pair of switch springs 150 and 151 that are normally open and are moved to the closed position by the cam C1, the switch spring 150 being connected to the conductor 117 and the switch spring 151 being connected to the conductor 118; the switch S12 includes a pair of switch springs 152 and 153 that are normally open and are moved to the closed position by the cam C1, the switch spring 152 being connected to the conductor .116 and the switch spring 153 being connected to the conductor 107. The cam C2 is useful to operate a switch S2 including a pair of switch springs 154 and 155 that are normally open and are moved to the closed position by the cam C2, the switch spring 154 being connected to the conductor 116 and the switch spring 155 being connected by a conductor 158 to one terminal of the drive motor 60, the other terminal of the drive motor 60 being connected to the conductor 108. The cam C3 is useful to operate a switch S3 including a pair of switch springs 156 and 157 that are normally open and are moved to the closed position by the cam C3, the switch spring 156 being connected to the conductor .116 and the switch spring 157 being connected by a conductor 159 to one terminal of a transfer solenoid 160, the other terminal of the transfer solenoid 160 being connected to the conductor 108.

Referring also to FIG. 3 of the drawing, it will be seen that the transfer solenoid 160 includes an armature 161 that is connected to the control arm 74 of the clutch mechanism 70, whereby when the transfer solenoid 160 is energized, the yoke 71 is shifted against the action of the spring 75 so as to cause engagement of the clutch members 47-62 and to cause disengagement between the clutch members 64-67; as a consequence, the drive mo-. tor Will have the output thereof coupled to the water pump 45 to cause operation thereof, there being no driving of the air pump at this time. De-energization of the transfer solenoid 160 permits the spring to return the yoke 71 to the normal position illustrated in FIG. 3, thereby to re-engage the clutch members 64-67 and to disengage the clutch members 47-62. As a con sequence, the air pump 65 is now coupled to the drive motor 60 and the water pump 45 is no longer driven. i

There is illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings a cycle diagram illustrating the operation of the switches S11, S12, S2 and S3, time being plotted along the horizontal axis and expressed in seconds. In the first position of the timer 140, the parts are arranged so that none of the switches are closed, this position being labeled OFF and having an assigned time interval of four seconds, i.e., an angular displacement of the dial ,140 corresponding to four seconds of time. The next position of the timer 140 is a START position having been assigned a time interval of three seconds and in the START position the switches S11 and S12 are closed while the switches S2 and S3 are open. At the end of the START period, the WASH cycle begins, the WASH cycle having been assigned a duration of twenty seconds; during the WASH cycle all of the switches S11, S12, S2 and S3 are closed by the corresponding cams C1, C2 and C3, respectively. At the termination of the WASH cycle, the DRY cycle begins, the DRY cycle having a time duration of thirty seconds; during the DRY cycle the switches S11, S12 and S2 are closed by the respective cams C1 and C2. Finally, there is provided a FINISH position having an assigned value of three seconds, only the switches S11 and S12 being closed by the cam C1 during the FINISH period. It will be seen that the entire operation of the timer 140 consumes sixty seconds or one minute, whereby the time motor 141 and the gear box 143 must be arranged to produce rotation of the driven shaft 145 at a rate of one revolution per minute. It will be appreciated, however, that any appropriate time cycle may be used, the one shown in the cycle diagram of FIG. 5 merely being illustrative.

Considering further the mode of operation of the control circuit 100, closure of the switch 102 applies operating potential to the conductors 107 and 108, and as a consequence, the pilot light is energized to signal the user that power has been applied to the control circuit 100 and a circuit is completed for the heater 50, the circuit being traced from the conductor 107 through the closed switch springs 113-114, and the conductor 116 to one terminal of the electrical coil 55; and from the other terminal of the electrical coil 55 to the conductor 108. The heater 50 continues to operate until the thermostatic switch 111 is operated by the bimetallic member 112 from the cold position illustrated in FIG. 4 to the hot position wherein the switch springs 114 and are closed. Closure of the switch springs 114-115 completes a circuit that can be traced from the conductor 107 through the closed switch springs 114-115 to the conductor 117 and from the conductor 117 to one terminal of the READY light 120, the other terminal of the READY light being connected to the conductor 108, thereby to energize the READY light 120, this signalling the user that the machine 10 is in condition for the washing operation.

With both the pilot light 110 and the READY light 120 energized, the user is informed that the machine 10 is in readiness for an eyeglasses washing operation, it being understood that the drive motor 60 of the timer motor and the transfer solenoid have heretofore been de-energized.

A pair of eyeglasses 30 is placed in the washing chamber 25 and the cover 35 closed thereover. The user then turns the dial 146 from the OFF position to the START position, such movement of the dial 146 and the attached driven shaft 145 and the cam mounted thereon being possible due to the impositive natureof the clutch 144 disposed between the gear box 143 and the driving shaft 145. Movement of the dial 146 from the OFF position to the START position moves the cam C1 so that it closes the switches S11 and S12, see FIG. 5 also. Closure of the switch S11 establishes a circuit for energizing the timer motor 141 that can be traced from the line conductor 107 through the closed switch springs 114-115, theconductor. 117, the now closed switch springs 150-151, and the conductor 118 to one terminal of the timer motor 141; the other terminal of the timer motor 141 is directly connected to the line conductor 108; as a consequence, the timer motor 141 now begins to operate to drive the shaft 145 through the gear box 143 and the clutch 144. It will be noted that the closure of the switch S11 also energizes the CYCLE light 130 which is also connected between the conductors 108 and 118. Accordingly, the user is appraised that the times 140 is cycling and that the eyeglasses Washing operation is proceeding. 6

At the same time that thewcam C1 closes the switch S11, it also closes the switch S12. Closure of the switch S12 establishes a bypass circuit from the line conductor 107 through the now closed switch springs 152-153 to the conductor 116 that is connected to one terminal of the heater the other terminal of the heater 50 is directly connected to the line conductor 108; as a consequence, the heater 50 will be operative regardless of the position of the thermostatic switch 111 throughout the operation of the timer 140, thus to ensure that the washing solvent and air are adequately heated.

At the end of the START portion of the cycle, the cam C2 operates the switch S2 to its closed position and the cam C3 operates the switch S3 to its closed position,

all as is diagrammatically illustrated by the cycle diagram of FIG. 5. Closure of the switch S2 establishes a circuit for the drive motor that can be traced from the line conductor 107 through the closed switch springs 152-153, the conductor 116, the closed switch springs 154-155 and the conductor 158 to one terminal of the drive motor 60; the other terminal of the drive motor 60 is directly connected to the line conductor 108. Closure of the switch S3 establishes a circuit for the transfer solenoid 160 that can be traced from the line conductor 107 through the closed switch springs 152-153, the conductor 116, the closed switch springs 156-157 and the conductor 159 to one terminal of the transfer solenoid 160; the other terminal of the transfer solenoid 160 is connected to the other line conductor 108.

Closure of the switch S3 therefor energizes the transfer solenoid 160 to shift the yoke 71 of the clutch mechanism to place the clutch members 47-62 in engagement and to disengage the clutch members 64-67. As a result, the pump 45 will be operated (the drive motor 60 being energized by the closure of the switch S2) to pump washing solvent from the tank 40 via the pipes 43 and 44 to the heater 50 and specifically the water coil 52 thereof. The heater 50 is hot whereby rapidly to heat the solvent passing through the water coil 52 and to form a steam ormist thereof that passes through the outlet pipe 53 and through the nozzles 54 to be impinged upon the surfaces of the lenses 32, thereby to wash the same. The heated washing solvent is sprayed upon the lenses 32 for twenty seconds at the end of which time period the switch S3 is opened by the cam C3, thus to de-energize the transfer solenoid 160 and to permit the spring to move the yoke 71 to disengage the clutch members 47- 62, thus to stop operation of the water pump 45.

The spring 75 further moves the yoke 71 to cause reengagement of the clutch members 64-67, and thus to begin driving the air pump 65. The air pump 65 draws air from the atmosphere through the filter 68 and delivers the air via the pipe 69 to the air coil 56 in the heater 50. The heater being hot will rapidly heat the air in' the air coil 56, the heated air. being discharged .via the pipe 57 and the nozzles 58 onto the surfaces of thelenses 32. When water containing a suitable wetting agent is utilized as the washing solvent, substantially all of the solvent drains from the lenses 32 immediately into the catch basin 26. The heated -.air streams from the nozzles .58 quickly evaporates any solvent remaining upon the surfaces of the lenses 32 to effect the drying thereof. At the end of the DRYING cycle which lasts approximately thirty seconds (see FIG. 5) the cam S2 moves the switch S2 to the open position thereof, thereby to de-energize the drive motor 60, the washing operation for the eyeglasses 30 now being substantially complete. The timer motor 141 continues to operate for three seconds to move the parts back into the OFF position at which time the cam C1 moves the switches S11 and S12 to the open positions thereof, thus to de-energize the timer motor 140 and to extinguish theCYCLE light 130. The turning off of the CYCLE.light 130 signals the .user that the washing and drying operations are complete and that the eyeglasses 30 are ready to be removed from the washing chamber 25, this being readily accomplished by the pivoting of the cover 35 to the open position and removing the eyeglasses 30 therefrom.

Recapituating the operation of the machine 10, the user moves the cover 35 to its open position and places the eyeglasses 30 in the machine 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, i.e., with the, frame 31 and the lenses 32 disposed posed in the washing chamber 25 and with the temple pieces 33 disposed in the spaces 24; the cover 35 is then moved to its. closed position illustrated in FIG. 1. The user next actuates the switch 102 to the closed position, thus to apply operating potentials to the line conductors 107-108, closure of the switch 102 energizing the pilot light 110 and energizing the heater 50.

When the heater 50reaches the required operating temperature, the thermostatic switch 11 moves from the cold position to the hot position thereof, thus opening the switch springs 113-114 and closing the switch springs 114-115. This operation of the thermostaticswitch 111 removes the electrical connections to the heater 50 but applies electrical .power to the conductor 117 thus to energize the READY light 120, the READY light 120 serving as a signal to the user that the machine 10is ready to begin a washing operation.

The user turns the dial 146 on the timer from its OFF position to its START position, such movement of the dial 146 causing the cam C1 to close the switches S11 and S12 to energize the CYCLE light 130, to energize the time motor 141, and to apply operating potential to the conductor 116, thus in effect to bypass the thermostatic switch 111 and to apply operating potentials to one of the switch springs of the switches S2 and S3 in preparation for closure thereof.

After a suitable short time interval of operation of the timer motor 141, the cam C2 closes the switch S2 and the cam C3 closes the switch S3 to energize the drive motor 60 and the transfer solenoid 160, respectively. The energized drive motor 60 is now clutched to the water pump 45 which serves to pump wash water from the reservoir tank 40 through the heater 50 to convert the wash water to steam or mist that is propelled through the nozzles 54 for impingement on the lenses 32 to eifect washing thereof. After twenty seconds of the washing operation, the cam C3 opens the switch S3 to de-energize the transfer solenoid which permits the spring 75 to operate the clutch mechanism 70 to disengage the water pump 45 andto engage the air pump 65. The air pump 65 now pumps air from the atmosphere through the filter 68 and the heater 50 to the nozzles 58 which direct streams of, hot air onto the lenses 32 to effect drying thereof. The drying cycle lasts. approximately thirty seconds at which time the cam C2 opens the switch S2 to place the parts in the FINISH portion of the operating cycle; at the end of the FINISH period the cam C1 9 opens the switches Sll and S12, thus to remove operating potentials froin theftimermotor 141, and to d e-energize the CYCLE light'130 to signal the'user that the eye glasses 30 have been cleaned, and to return the control of the heater 50 to the thermostatic Switch 111.;

The user now 'may move the coverf5 to open position and remove'the' cleaned eyeglasses 3'0fromtlie'ma chine 10. At this time his possible. immediately to initiate the washing of another pair of eyeglasses by repeating the above described operation since the heater 50 is still hot. If no more eyeglasses; are to becleaned, the user will open the switch 102 and close the cover 35 Inforther is noted that the eyeglasses 30 neednot be placed in the machine until after the READY light has been lit, if desired.v V

From the above, it will be seen that there has been provided a desk-top machine for washing eyeglasses which fulfills all of the objects and advantages set forth above.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A desk-top machine for washing eyeglasses having lenses mounted in a frame therefor, said machine comprising a housing adapted to be supported upon a desk top and having an opening in the top thereof communicating with a washing chamber therein for receiving the frame carrying the lenses of the eyeglasses to be cleaned, a cover hingedly mounted on said housing and movable between an eyeglass receiving position permitting access through said opening and an eyeglass washing position closing said opening, a plurality of nozzles having outlets disposed in said washing chamber for directing streams of fluid upon both surfaces of the lenses disposed in said washing chamber, a reservoir for washing solvent mounted in said housing, means disposed in said housing for pumping solvent from said reservoir through a first set of said nozzles to direct streams of solvent upon both surfaces of the lenses disposed in said washing chamber to wash the lenses, means disposed in said housing for pumping air from the atmosphere through a second set of said nozzles to direct streams of air upon both surfaces of the lenses disposed in said washing chamber to dry the lenses, and a control circuit for controlling said pumping means to effect the automatic washing and drying of eyeglasses disposed in said machine.

2. The desk-top machine for washing eyeglasses set forth in claim 1, wherein the machine is adapted to wash eyeglasses having temple pieces hingedly connected to the frame, said housing having spaces therein communicating with said opening for receiving the temple pieces, and said cover in the eyeglass receiving position permitting access through said opening to said spaces and in the eyeglasses washing position closing said opening.

3. The desk-top machine for washing eyeglasses set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a control switch mounted on said housing and forming a part of said control circuit for energizing the same, and timer mechanism mounted in said housing and forming a part of said control circuit for causing operation of said solvent pumping means for a predetermined time and thereafter for causing operation of said air pumping means for a predetermined time.

4. A desk-top machine for washing eyeglasses having lenses mounted in a frame therefor, said machine comprising a housing adapted to be supported upon a desk top and having therein a washing chamber for receiving the frame carrying the lenses of the eyeglasses to be cleaned, a plurality of nozzles having outlets disposed in said washing chamber for directing streams of fluids upon both surfaces of the lenses disposed in said washing chamber, a reservoir for washing solvent mounted in said housing, a solvent pump mounted in said housing and having an inlet connected to said reservoir and an outlet connected to said nozzles, an air pump mounted in said housing andhaving an inlet communicating with the atmosphere and an outlet connected to said nozzles, a drive motor mounted on said housing, clutch mechanism mounted in said housing for selectively connecting said drive motor to said solvent pump and to said air pump, and a control circuit for controlling said clutch mechanism first to cause operation of said solvent pump to direct streams of solvent upon both surfaces of the lenses disposed in said washing chamber to wash the lenses and thereafter to cause operation of said air pump to direct streams of air upon both surfaces of the lenses disposed in said washing chamber to dry the lenses, thus to effect the automatic washing of the eyeglasses disposed in said machine.

5. The desk-top machine for washing eyeglasses set forth in claim 4, and further comprising a heater for heating the solvent prior to the pumping thereof through said nozzles and for heating the air prior to the pumping thereof through said nozzles.

6. The desk-top machine for washing eyeglasses set forth in claim 4, wherein said control circuit further includes timer mechanism for operating said solvent pump for a predetermined time and thereafter operating said air pump for a predetermined time.

7. A desk-top machine for washing eyeglasses having lenses mounted in a frame therefor, said machine comprising a housing adapted to be supported upon a desk top and having opening in the top thereof communicating with a washing chamber therein for receiving the frame carrying the lenses of the eyeglasses to be cleaned, a

.cover hingedly mounted on said housing and movable between an eyeglass receiving position permitting access through said opening and an eyeglass washing position closing said opening, a plurality of nozzles having outlets disposed in said washing chamber for directing streams of fluids upon both surfaces of the lenses disposed in said washing chamber, a reservoir for washing solvent mounted in said housing, an electrical heater including a heating element and fluid passages in good heat exchange relation therewith and having inlets and having outlets connected to said nozzles, a solvent pump mounted on said housing and having an inlet connected to said reservoir and an outlet connected to a fluid passage in said heater, an air pump mounted in said housing and having an inlet communicating with the atmosphere and an outlet connected to a fluid passage in said heater, a drive motor mounted in said housing, electrically actuated clutch mechanism mounted in said housing for selectively connecting said drive motor to said solvent pump and said air pump, and a control circuit for said heater and said drive motor and said clutch mechanism, said control circuit being operative to energize said heater and to actuate said clutch mechanism selectively to connect said drive motor to said solvent pump to direct streams of solvent upon both surfaces of the lenses dis posed in said washing chamber to wash the lenses and thereafter to actuate said clutch mechanism selectively to connect said drive motor to said air pump to direct streams of air upon both surfaces of the lenses disposed in said washing chamber to dry the lenses, thus to effect automatic washing of the eyeglasses disposed in said machine.

8. The desk-top machine for washing eyeglasses set forth in claim 7, wherein said heater has a first fluid passage therein having an inlet connected to the outlet of said solvent pump and having an outlet connected to a first set of nozzles for directing a stream of solvent upon both surfaces of lenses disposed in said washing chamber upon operation of said solvent pump, and said heater has a second fluid passage therein having an inlet connected to the outlet of said air pump and having an outlet connected to a second set of nozzles for directing a stream of air upon both'surfaces of lenses disposed in i said washing chamber upon operation of said air pump.

9. The desk-top machine for washing eyeglasses set forth in claim 7, and further comprising a light mounted on said housing and connected in said control circuit, a thermostatic switch forming a part of said control circuit and connected to said light and responsive to the heating of said fluid passage to a predetermined temperature for energizing said light to provide a signal that said machine is ready to begin a washing cycle.

10. The desk-top machine for Washing eyeglasses set forth in claim 7, and further comprising a timing mechanism connected in said control circuit and operative to control the length of times that said drive motor is connected to said solvent pump and said air pump respec- 15 tively to cause operation thereof.

11. The desk-top machine for washing eyeglasses set forth in claim 7, and further comprising a transfer solenoid connected in said control circuit and forming a part of said clutch mechanism for selectively connecting said drive motor to said solvent pump and said air pump respectively under the control of said control circuit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1959 Bromberg 13499 3,092,121 6/1963 Broge 13458 3,259,139 7/1966 Bell et al. 134-136 XR ROBERT L. BLEUTGE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DESK-TOP MACHINE FOR WASHING EYEGLASSES HAVING LENSES MOUNTED IN A FRAME THEREFOR, SAID MACHINE COMPRISING A HOUSING ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED UPON THE DESK TOP AND HAVING AN OPENING IN THE TOP THEREOF COMMUNICATING WITH A WASHING CHAMBER THEREIN FOR RECEIVING THE FRAME CARRYING THE LENSES OF THE EYEGLASSES TO BE CLEANED, A COVER HINGEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING AND MOVABLE BETWEEN AN EYEGLASS RECEIVING POSITION PERMITTING ACCESS THROUGH SAID OPENING AND AN EYEGLASS WASHING POSITION CLOSING SAID OPENING, A PLURALITY OF NOZZLES HAVING OUTLETS DISPOSED IN SAID WASHING CHAMBER FOR DIRECTING STREAMS OF FLUID UPON BOTH SURFACES OF THE LENSES DISPOSES IN SAID WASHING CHAMBER, A RESERVOIR FOR WASHING SOLVENT MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING, MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID HOUSING FOR PUMPING SOLVENT FROM SAID RESERVOIR THROUGH A FIRST SET OF SAID NOZZLES TO DIRECT STREAMS OF SOLVENT UPON BOTH SURFACES OF THE LENSES DISPOSED IN SAID WASHING CHAMBER TO WASH THE LENSES, MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID HOUSING FOR PUMPING AIR FROM THE ATMOSPHERE THROUGH A SECOND SET OF SAID NOZZLES TO DIRECT STREAMS OF AIR BOTH SURFACES OF THE LENSES DISPOSED IN SAID WASHING CHAMBER TO DRY THE LENSES, AND A CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR CONTROLLING SAID PUMPING MEANS TO EFFECT THE AUTOMATIC WASHING AND DRYING OF EYEGLASSES DISPOSED IN SAID MACHINE. 